WASHINGTON, D.C. – It was an exciting final day of the CUA Guetle Invitational for the Marymount (Va.) University women's volleyball team, winning the final two matches of the tournament to go 3-1 for the weekend. With a great two-day performance, junior Cailyn Thomas was named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of Saturday's matches. 

The Saints opened up with a strong showing against Bridgewater (Va.) College, putting together a three-set sweep, 3-0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-23). They carried that momentum into a competitive five-set match against host Catholic University of America, pulling off a late comeback in the match to take it 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 17-15). 

Marymount vs. Bridgewater 

Thomas and the rest of the squad jumped out early in this match and never looked back, grabbing the first set, 25-9. On a 22-point stretch, 20 points were recorded by the Saints to give them a 22-5 advantage that they road to the end of the set. 

The second set was very similar, taking a 25-16 decision, before the Eagles put up a fight in the third game. Bridgewater turned the tables late in the set to register three-consecutive points to take a 23-22 lead, drawing a Marymount timeout. Coming out of the short break, the Saints answered with three-straight points of their own off kills by sophomore Margaret McAlpin and junior Emileigh Rettig and a service ace by sophomore Emily Montgomery to seal up the set and the match. 

Thomas paced the attack with a match-high 11 kills and five block assists, while senior Morgan McAlpin recorded eight kills. Rettig also had a match high in digs with 11, and sophomore Ashley Cabrera put together a team-high 12 assists. 

Marymount vs. Catholic 

The Saints battled until the final volley in the last match of the tournament against the Cardinals, taking it to extra points in the fifth set before claiming the victory. Trading sets in the first four, the 2-2 draw would take it to a deciding game that was nothing short of exciting.

With Marymount falling behind early through the first half of the set, 8-3, it awakened after shifting sides to open the restart with three-straight points, two kills by Morgan and one kill by her sister Margaret, to get within two. Although another kill spread it back to a three-point advantage for the Cardinals, the Saints answered again with a four points to take over the lead 10-9. The four points were collected off kills by Morgan, Margaret and Rettig and a service ace by Montgomery. 

With the one-point lead, MU wouldn't surrender the advantage for the reminder of the set although Catholic drew it even four more times in the short distance to the end of the match. With it all knotted up at 15-15, the final touch was put on by the Saints off kills by freshman Caroline Hanson and Morgan to take the set, 17-15, and claim the match, 3-2.

The women will continue their play in the nation's capital for their next match, as they travel to Gallaudet University on Wednesday, September 16 for a non-conference matchup. Start time is set for 7 p.m.